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SAN ANTONIO – Jurors handed a local rap-label owner a 40-year murder sentence Monday as his second trial concluded for the fatal shooting in 2011 of his best friend and business partner.

Anthony Johnson, 23, was found guilty of murder in April by the first jury, which couldn't reach a punishment decision. The murder conviction stood as his punishment-only retrial began last week in the 290th state District Court.

The finding, which would have meant Johnson couldn't reflect coolly on the situation because he was provoked, would have limited the range of punishment to between two and 20 years in prison. Murder usually carries a maximum sentence of life.

The jury, however, rejected the sudden passion argument after less than four hours of deliberations.

In April, the previous jury deliberated 14 hours during the punishment phase, remaining deadlocked 11-1 on the issue of sudden passion, before Judge Melisa Skinner declared the partial mistrial.

During closing arguments Monday morning, Hoyle asked jurors to consider a range of punishment between 10 and 15 years.

“This was a one-time dispute between friends that neither of them knew how to handle, and they let it get out of control,” he said.